For the record I had Pacquiao winning their 1st fight and Marquez winning their 2nd fight. Without question Marquez gives Pacquiao all types of trouble and if he would have been able to stay on his feet in both their fights he would be sporting a 2-0 record against the Pound for Pound King.
Pacquiao has had a string of fights where not because of a lack of trying hasn’t been very exciting. Many boxers just see Pacquiao as a paycheck, so they fight to survive not win.
That won’t happen with Marquez if he is going to go out he will go out on his shield, but there are just too many factors weighing against him.
1- Age
Can’t fight father time. While I don’t think Manny Pacquiao is at his peek, I think he is closer to it that Marquez. Marquez is now fighting more off intelligence than pure athletic skills. That is enough to get him by younger fighters, but someone as talented as Pacquiao that won’t be enough.
2- Size
Pacquiao truly isn’t a natural welterweight, but he has proven he can still beat down legit welterweights with relative ease. Whatever you believe his team has done to help him keep his speed while improving his power as he moved up in weight is irrelevant, the facts are it works. Marquez is a natural lightweight I thought his best chance to come in at his normal weight which is around 135 and just try to win the way he has always competed with Pacquiao instead he has bulked up and I think it will help him more than hurt him.
3- Pacquiao’s improvements
Pacquiao was good when he fault Marquez in the past, but now he is great. What may have worked in the past for Marquez might not work on Saturday night.
4- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
No way Marquez gets a close decision, not with a Money Mayweather fight hanging out there for Manny Pacquiao. Marquez would have to KO Manny or win a clear decision, neither seems likely.
5- Pacquiao’s focus
Many of Pacquiao’s opponents to be honest, while he has beat them up, he has shown mercy. Mainly because he liked them. Also his motivation hasn’t been that high because honestly he knew the opponents posed little to no threat. When it comes to Marquez he knows he can fight with him and he knows Marquez is capable of beating him. He also wants to put to rest who is the best fighter between them and not leave it up to the judges.
Can Marquez beat Pacquiao? Absolutely, he is the only fighter who has given Pacquiao any problems since Pacquiao lost to Erik Morales in the 1st fight of their trilogy, but I think Marquez time has passed.
He will put on a good show for awhile, but eventually will be stopped.
Pacquiao by TKO 8th rd